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An innovative digital performance by Brendan Fernandes; intimate in-gallery performances by the TSO, National Ballet, and COC; artists, thinkers and writers in conversation
TORONTO — Following a safe reopening, today the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) announces a robust lineup of fall programming including talks, performances, tours, readings and courses. Responding to the unprecedented moment we find ourselves in with both in-person and online experiences, these programs connect artists, writers and thinkers to Toronto and the world.
“The pandemic has challenged us all to find new creative ways to come together. With this in mind we are embracing a hybrid approach to programming. This fall we are inviting our artistic partners to join us as we deliver global conversations, artmaking courses, community partnerships and innovative performances, both in person and online. In addition to these, we have an exciting offering of school programs focused on wellness art” said Audrey Hudson, the AGO’s Richard & Elizabeth Currie Chief, Education & Programming. “This season also marks the debut of the AGO’s first digital commission - a new performance by former Torontonian, now internationally renowned artist, Brendan Fernandes. We are so pleased to explore this new landscape with him and our many partners.”
"We are proud to continue our support for the Art Gallery of Ontario fall programming at a time when the world around seems so uncertain" states Andrea Barrack, Global Head of Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group. "Access to arts and culture is critical, now more than ever, to help connect people through their shared experiences. Through the TD Ready Commitment, the Bank's global corporate citizenship platform, we are helping foster connection with the arts while amplifying contemporary, under-represented and diverse voices across the arts and culture landscape."
Highlights from the AGO’s fall season are listed below. For information about all upcoming AGO programs, visit ago.ca/events. Registration is now open for all talks and performances, while adult, youth and children’s courses will go on sale Sept. 15.
AGO Members receive a discount on courses. For more information on how to become a Member, visit ago.ca/membership today. AGO Annual Passes provide unlimited entry for an entire year, including access to any programs that are free with admission. Annual Passes are $25 and free for visitors 25 and under.
Talks
Committed to leading global conversations from Toronto, the AGO fall season includes numerous talks by artists, curators, community leaders and authors. Highlights this fall include:
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Shape of the Museum, a free series of art-inspired online conversations continues, Thursdays at 2 p.m. To register for upcoming talks, visit https://ago.ca/programs.
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Revolutions by Artists is a new talk series, launching this October. Highlighting artists past and present whose work advocates for equality, dialogue, and civic participation, this free talk series kicks off on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. with a conversation with American satirical illustrator Sandow Birk, whose prints The Horrible & Terrible Deeds & Words of the Very Renowned Trumpagruel, were recently on view at the AGO. Register for this free talk at https://ago.ca/events/art-spotlight-sandow-birk
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Acclaimed Jamaican-born poet Claudia Rankine discusses aspects of American guilt and racism, in a conversation about her new book, Just Us: An American Conversation, on November 24, at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Register for this free talk at https://ago.ca/events/claudia-rankine-conversation
AGO Live
AGO Live returns this fall with intimate in Gallery performances as well as online performances by emerging and celebrated artists.
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Beginning Friday, Sept. 25, AGO Live hosts artists from many of Canada’s leading arts and community organizations, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, National Ballet of Canada, Soundstreams, RISE Edutainment and the Canadian Opera Company, for a series of intimate weekly performances entitled Hello From The Other Side. Happening in Gallery every Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and amplified online, these physically-distanced performances are free with the booking of a timed-entry ticket. The series kicks off on Sept. 25 with musical performances by members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in Walker Court.
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Making its world debut on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m., The Left Space is a new digital performance choreographed by internationally renowned artist Brendan Fernandes. Commissioned by the AGO, and created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Left Space features a team of dancers performing simultaneously from their homes around the world. This free live to Zoom performance will be followed by an interview between the artist and Bojana Stancic, Assistant Curator, Live Projects and Performance. To register please visit https://ago.ca/events/ago-live-brendan-fernandes-left-space
AGO x Art Toronto
This fall, the AGO again partners with ART Toronto to celebrate Canada’s art fair, taking place from Oct. 28 to Nov. 8. The fair kicks off with a Preview event which serves as a fundraiser for the AGO. Tickets to the Preview are $25 and include first access to this year’s Fair as well as exciting talks, tours and some special surprises. To learn more visit https://ago.ca/art-toronto
AGO Makes for Families
AGO Makes returns this fall online and in Gallery, thanks to the generosity of our supporting sponsor, Amica Senior Lifestyles. Following its hugely successful debut this summer, AGO Makes returns on Sept. 22 with a new digital artmaking adventure for all ages inspired by a work in the AGO Collection. New maker challenges will be posted monthly on the AGO website at https://ago.ca/learn/learn-and-make
Youth Programs
Launched last spring, the AGO’s new admission policy means visitors aged 25 and under are now free, anytime! Youth programs began the week of Sept. 8 and provide youth with free opportunities to network, learn new skills and experiment, no registration required. Highlights include:
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Follow @AGOYouth on Instagram and be sure to catch Whack, Bam, Pose, a pre-recorded video tutorial led by a Toronto artist Ashley ‘Colours’ Perez, happening Tuesday, Sept. 15 and Sept. 22 at 5 p.m.
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Launched last spring, Skillz Share! is a monthly series of Instagram videos programmed by Youth Council members that connect a work in the collection to a specific life skill. The fall series kicks off Wed. Sept. 16 at 3 p.m. with Syrus Marcus Ware, for a discussion entitled How to be an Activist.
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What can you see in your neighbourhood? Beginning Oct. 28, @AGOYouth unveils a new monthly series of pre-recorded talks entitled Neighbourhood Walks, led by artists from the local community. Each episode features a different artist discussing an aspect of the urban environment – from plant life to skateboard jumps.
Community Programs
The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) recognizes the diversity of our visitors' abilities and needs, and offers a variety of programs and services to ensure the accessibility of the museum and its collection. This fall the AGO is launching numerous free online programs and resources to support our communities, including monthly Seniors Social events, Deaf Culture Tours of the AGO Collection, and art educator led multi-sensory explorations. For more details visit the AGO’s new Access to Art Resource page here: https://ago.ca/visit/accessibility-ago/access-to-art
Tours
This fall, the AGO is offering engaging private virtual art tours for up to 15 people per group. Led by art educators, these tours will help you explore our collection through conversation and group members exchanging their ideas and observations. On tap:
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Women in Art: Discover how women artists have been involved in making art throughout history by exploring the AGO's collections, including European, Canadian, African, Photography and Contemporary.
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Palette to Palate: Foodies take note! Take in the sights, sounds, tastes and smells that have inspired artists who have elevated food to a work of art across centuries and cultures.
For more information about how to book your tour, be sure to visit https://ago.ca/ in the coming weeks.
Courses
Whether you’ve never picked up a paintbrush, or you’ve studied art for years, whether you’re 2 or 102, the AGO has an online course for you. Artmaking and art exploration courses return this fall, with dynamic online offerings for adults, youth, children and families. Registration opens Sept. 15 for online courses and workshops happening October through December. For more information, visit www.ago.ca/Learn. Highlights from the 2020 online course schedule include:
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In Mindful Art, adults (ages 18+) are invited to slow down and explore the creative process, as they undertake a series of creative artmaking projects through a mindful lens.
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Youth (ages 14-18) are invited to grab a paintbrush and try their hand at creating an original selfie as part of our Youth Studio: Painting Portraits.
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Introduce your children (ages 6 to 13) to traditional and contemporary artmaking techniques in one of our many children’s courses, including Life Drawing, Painting & Mixed Media, Watercolour Explorations, and Cartooning.
For families looking to get creative with their children aged 2 to 10, our one-day Painting Together workshops or our four week Side by Side courses offer parents, grandparents or guardians a time to bond, make memories, and explore creative play.
The AGO is grateful to the following for annual support of Public Programs & Learning:
Talks and Performances generously supported by:
Lead Sponsor: TD Bank Group through The TD Ready Commitment
Media Partner: blogTO
AGO Makes generously supported by:
Supporting Sponsor: Amica Senior Lifestyles
Youth Programs generously supported by:
Bob & Angel Harding
Nancy E.A. Main
Additional assistance from: The Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation.
Accessibility Programs generously supported by:
Greenrock Charitable Trust
Additional assistance from: Matthew Teitelbaum Fund for Community Access Initiatives
Family Programs generously supported by:
Janis Rotman
Ongoing support from the following AGO Endowment Funds:
Arthur Lismer Group
The Learning Circle
The Learning Fund
ABOUT THE AGO
Located in Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museums in North America, attracting approximately one million visitors annually. The AGO Collection of more than 105,000 works of art ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art to significant works by Indigenous and Canadian artists and European masterpieces. The AGO presents wide-ranging exhibitions and programs, including solo exhibitions and acquisitions by diverse and underrepresented artists from around the world. In 2019, the AGO launched a bold new initiative designed to make the museum even more welcoming and accessible with the introduction of free admission for anyone 25 years and under and a $35 annual pass. Visit AGO.ca to learn more.
The AGO is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. Additional operating support is received from the City of Toronto, the Canada Council for the Arts and generous contributions from AGO Members, donors and private-sector partners.
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For hi-res images and other press inquiries, please contact:
Andrea-Jo Wilson; Manager, Public Relations
[email protected]
Antoine Tedesco: Director, Communications
[email protected]
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